Updated

The man accused of killing his wife and their four children blames her for setting the fire that claimed the children's lives, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

Michel Veillette, 34, a native of Canada, is jailed without bond in Warren County in the Jan. 11 deaths at his southwest Ohio home. Authorities have said he fatally stabbed Nadya Ferrari-Veillette, 33, then used gas to set fire to their home in suburban Mason, about 20 miles northeast of Cincinnati, causing the children's deaths from smoke inhalation.

"I failed as a father. I could not protect my kids. I forgive my wife for the fire. I know she did not intend to hurt the kids," Veillette told The Cincinnati Enquirer for a story posted Wednesday on the newspaper's site.

A Mason police detective testified last week that Veillette admitted stabbing his wife and setting the fatal blaze, but Veillette said police badgered him while he was under the influence of painkillers in a hospital where he was being treated for injuries.

"They say I was very responsive and all, but I don't remember half of what I told them," Veillette said.

Warren County authorities plan to take the case to a grand jury, which will decide what charges Veillette should face. He was arrested on charges of aggravated murder, murder and aggravated arson. A message was left for Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel.